Self-cleaning wall oven with air flow system

ABSTRACT

A wall oven assembly of the pyrolytic self-cleaning type is provided with a forced air flow system in which air is drawn in through a perimetric gap between the front frame of the assembly and the wall cabinet along at least the opposite sides and the top of the assembly, as well as being drawn in through an intermediate passage between an upper control chamber and a lower oven cavity structure, and the air so drawn in is then forced by a fan at the rear of the oven assembly back into the room through opposite side passages and through the control chamber having an outlet along its front top edge.

United @tates Patent 1 Barnett 1 1 SELF-CLEANING WALL OVEN WITH AIR FLOWSYSTEM [52] U.S. Cl. 126/273 A; 126/21 A [51] Int. Cl. F24c 15/32 [58]Field of Search 126/21 R, 21 A, 273 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1965 Locher 126/273 A1/1972 Barnett et a1. 126/21 R May 13, 1975 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-E.C. Arenz [57] ABSTRACT A wall oven assembly of the pyrolyticself-cleaning type is provided with a forced air flow system in whichair is drawn in through a perimetric gap between the front frame of theassembly and the wall cabinet along at least the opposite sides and thetop of the assembly, as well as being drawn in through an intermediatepassage between an upper control chamber and a lower oven cavitystructure, and the air so drawn in is then forced by a fan at the rearof the oven assembly back into the room through opposite side passagesand through the control chamber having an outlet along its front topedge.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures k' II,

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" SHEET 10? 2 PATENTEBHAY 1 3815 saw NF 2 l SELF-CLEANING WALL OVEN WITHAIR FLOW SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Barnett and BakerUS. patent applications Ser. No. 482,197 filed June 24, 1974 (WE case44,963) is a related application in the sense of commonality of someparts of the oven assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionpertains to the art of domestic selfcleaning wall oven constructions.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art patents of which applicantis aware relating to air flow cooling systems for built-in wall ovens ofthe pyrolytic self-cleaning type are: US. Pat. Nos. 3,686,476;3,659,578; 3,633,561; 3,587,557; 3,548,152; 3,485,229; 3,384,067;3,310,046.

While some parts of the arrangements disclosed in these patents bearsome similarity to parts of applicants arrangement according to thisinvention, none are considered to provide all the advantages attained byapplicants arrangement.

In such ovens, there are requirements limiting exterior surfacetemperatures of those parts of the oven assembly bounded by the wallcabinet, and also limits set for the maximum temperature to whichcontrol knob temperatures may rise during the pyrolytic selfcleaningcycle of the oven. As a result, exhausting hot air in the vicinityclosely below the control knobs can create problems of control knobtemperatures. Additionally, exhausting hot air in this location mayresult in the hot air being blown directly at the face of one standingin front of the oven.

It is the aim of the invention to provide an air flow system for an ovenassembly of the type noted in which the overall air flow systemfunctions to avoid the problem of heating parts such as the knobs,control panel, door and frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with applicants invention, theair flow system includes generally perimetric air inlets as well as aninlet at the front of the intermediate passage defined between thecontrol chamber and the oven cavity defining structure, and in which theair is forced back into the room closely adjacent the sides of the ovencavity defining structure and through the control chamber from which itis deflected upwardly and forwardly along the top edge of the controlchamber. The concept of the invention also calls for a counter flowarrangement of air along at least the sides, and in the area above theoven cavity.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a partly schematic view in the nature of avertical section through an oven assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly schematic view in the nature of a horizontal sectioncorresponding to one taken along the line 11-" of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partly-broken, isometric view of the upperportion of the oven assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawing, the oven assembly according to the invention is typicallyinstalled in a room such as a kitchen having a wall cabinet 10 providedwith a rectangular opening therein sized to accommodate the particularwall oven to be installed. The invention is described in connection witha single wall oven of the selfcleaning type, but it will be understoodthat the principles of the invention are equally applicable to a doublewall oven, in which normally only the upper of the two ovens is of thepyrolytic, self-cleaning type.

The oven cavity 12 is generally defined by a boxshaped oven liner 14having an open front 16 adapted to be closed by the insulated front door18, with all five sides except the front of the oven liner beingsurrounded by the conventional thermal insulation 20. In the preferredconstruction, the outer faces of the thermal insulation of the ovencavity defining structure are covered by the outer side panels 21 and22, inner top panel 23, bottom panel 24, and inner rear panel 25.

The oven assembly also includes an outer housing formed of wallsincluding a top cover 26, outer side walls 27 and 28, a bottomchannel-shaped wall 29 and a rear cover or wall 30.

A control and wiring chamber 32 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is formed in the upperpart of the housing between the top cover 26 and an upper inner panel34, both of which extend laterally between the opposite side walls 27and 28 of the housing. The front of the control chamber 32 is providedwith a wall 35 for mounting various of the oven controls indicated at36. The top edge of wall 35 is spaced forwardly of slanted deflector 53and the front edge of top cover 26 to provide openings as at 37 topermit the exit of air forced through the control chamber.

An intermediate passage 38 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is defined between the topface 23 of the oven cavity defining structure, and the upper inner panel34 defining the bottom of the control chamber. This intermediate passage38 has a front opening 39 in communication with the air in the room, andhas a rear opening 40 in the back cover 30.

At the lower rear of the assembly, an opening 41 is provided (FIGS. 1and 2) in rear cover 30 to receive a fan motor assembly 42 mounted tothe rear cover 30 by a conventional spider arrangement. The suction sideof the fan is in communication with the space 43 immediately to the rearof the rear cover 30, and the pressure side of the fan discharges intothe space 44 behind the rear face 25 of the oven cavity definingstructure. A duct 45 at the level of the intermediate passage 38 placesthe interior of the control chamber 32 in communication with the space44.

The gases produced within the oven cavity during a heat cleaning cycleare vented back into the room through a vertical conduit 46 (FIG. 1)which extends through the insulation in the upper wall of the ovencavity defining structure and is connected to a relatively shallow ventduct 47 in the lower part of the intermediate passage and carries thegases to the front side of the oven assembly as disclosed in US. Pat.No. 3,633,561.

A front frame 48 (FIG. 3) serves as the basic structural part at thefront of the oven assembly and has a number of the side wall parts andthe control chamber front fastened thereto to provide the overallstructural integrity of the assembly. A series of vertically disposedslots 49 in the front frame at the sides of the oven are aligned withthe side air passageways 50 and 51 defined between the side outer facesof the oven cavity defining structure and the outer side panels.

In the installed relation of the oven assembly to the wall cabinet,suitable gaps 54 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided between the frame 48 andcabinet wall so that a perimetric air inlet is defined between theboundaries of the opening of the cabinet, at at least the top andopposite sides of the oven assembly, and at the bottom by the spacedapart bottom panel 24 and bottom pan 29. Except for the bottom, theperimetric air inlet permits the air induced by the fan means 42 to flowin the gaps and past the exterior faces of the housing, and to the space43 at the rear of the oven assembly. Additionally, air is drawn inthrough the front of the unit through the intermediate passage 38 andexits to the rear space 43. Finally, air is drawn past the bottom of theoven cavity defining structure through the passage 52 to the suctionside of the fan. The direction of the air flow through the variouspassages and past the surfaces of the oven assembly are indicated by thedirection arrows in each of the views.

The air so drawn by the fan is forced into the space 44 at the rear ofthe oven cavity and then flows through the side air passages 50 and 51to the slots 49 in the front frame; and also upwardly through theconnecting duct 45 to the interior of the control chamber 32, fromwhence it exits along the front top edge thereof through the gap 37. Toensure that this air exiting through gap 37 is directed away from anyonestanding in front of the oven, the inclined deflector 53 (FIGS. 1 and 3)at the front of the partition 55 is provided.

It is to be particularly noted that a counter flow relationship of theair exists at both the sides of the oven assembly, and also at the upperpart of the oven assembly between the external air flow above thecontrol chamber and the internal air flow in the control chamber, andbetween the internal flow in the control chamber and the air through theintermediate passage. Air at room temperature is introduced through theperimetric air inlet and at the bottom of the oven assembly, and servesto prevent the exterior surfaces of the housing from exceeding thepermitted temperature. The air which is drawn through the intermediatepassage 38 and which serves in part to effect some cooling of the gasespassing forwardly through the duct 47, and is thereby heated somewhat,is mixed with the air from the perimetric inlets at the rear of the ovenassembly. By virtue of the air entering the front of the intermediatepassage 38, the problem of the control knobs being heated to anexcessive temperature is eliminated.

The air exiting from the slots 49 and the front frame 48 may bedischarged to the side through the gap between the faces of the door andthe front frame in that area, or if desired may be directed into theinterior of the door through aligned slots in the innerface of the doorand then passed upwardly in the door for purposes of cooling the door.

I claim:

1. An oven assembly of the pyrolytic self-cleaning type for wallinstallation in a cabinet having an opening sufficiently large that aperimetric air inlet is defined between the boundaries of said openingand at least the top and opposite sides of the oven assembly,comprising:

outer housing means including top, bottom, rear and opposite side walls;

a thermally-insulated oven liner having an open front disposed in saidhousing and presenting top, bottom, rear and opposite side outer faces,the rear and opposite side outer faces being spaced inwardly from therespectively facing walls of said outer housing to define air flowpassages therebetween;

21 control chamber in the top part of said outer housing and having atop front air outlet, the bottom of said control chamber defining anintermediate passage with the top outer face of said oven liner, saidintermediate passage having an air inlet opening at its front and an airoutlet opening to the space behind said housing rear wall at its rear;

duct means connecting said air flow passage at the rear of said liner tothe interior of said control chamber; and

fan means in the air flow passage at the rear of said oven liner andhaving a suction side in communication with the space to the rear ofsaid rear housing wall for drawing air through said perimetric air inletand past the exterior of said top and opposite side walls of saidhousing, and through said intermediate passage, and forcing air from thedischarge side of said fan means through said air flow passage at therear of said oven liner, through said control chamber, and through saidair flow passages at the opposite sides of said liner from rear tofront.

2. An oven assembly according to claim 1 including:

air passage means at the bottom of said oven assembly in communicationwith the space to the rear of said rear housing wall.

3. An oven assembly according to claim 1 including:

means associated with said top front air outlet of said control chamberfor deflecting air exiting therefrom in a partly upwardly direction.

4. A wall oven assembly of the pyrolytic self-cleaning type adapted tobe installed in a cabinet in a room, comprising:

an outer housing;

a control chamber in the upper part of said housing;

a thermally-insulated oven cavity defining structure in said housing;

an intermediate air flow passage defined between said control chamberand said oven cavity defining structure, said intermediate passagehaving an inlet opening at the front and an outlet opening at the rear;

air inlet means defined at the top and sides of said housing with saidcabinet;

fan means located at the rear of said oven assembly and having a suctionside and a pressure side, said pressure side being in communication witha space at the rear of said oven cavity defining structure;

side air flow passages defined at both sides of said oven assemblybetween the outer sides of said oven cavity defining structure andrespectively facing inner faces of said outer housing, and incommunication with the pressure side of said fan means;

means placing said space at the rear of said oven cavity definingstructure in communication with the interior of said control chamber;

6 said fan means being operable to draw air through into said roomthrough said side air passages and said arr inlet means and past theouter faces of said through Said. control chamber having an outlet atouter housing to the suction side of said fan means, and also draw airthrough said intermediate passage from front to rear, and for forcingair back 5 its upper front edge portion.

1. An oven assembly of the pyrolytic self-cleaning type for wallinstallation in a cabinet having an opening sufficiently large that aperimetric air inlet is defined between the boundaries of said openingand at least the top and opposite sides of the oven assembly,comprising: outer housing means including top, bottom, rear and oppositeside walls; a thermally-insulated oven liner having an open frontdisposed in said housing and presenting top, bottom, rear and oppositeside outer faces, the rear and opposite side outer faces being spacedinwardly from the respectively facing walls of said outer housing todefine air flow passages therebetween; a control chamber in the top partof said outer housing and having a top front air outlet, the bottom ofsaid control chamber defining an intermediate passage with the top outerface of said oven liner, said intermediate passage having an air inletopening at its front and an air outlet opening to the space behind saidhousing rear wall at its rear; duct means connecting said air flowpassage at the rear of said liner to the interior of said controlchamber; and fan means in the air flow passage at the rear of said ovenliner and having a suction side in communication with the space to therear of said rear housing wall for drawing air through said perimetricair inlet and past the exterior of said top and opposite side walls ofsaid housing, and through said intermediate passage, and forCing airfrom the discharge side of said fan means through said air flow passageat the rear of said oven liner, through said control chamber, andthrough said air flow passages at the opposite sides of said liner fromrear to front.
 2. An oven assembly according to claim 1 including: airpassage means at the bottom of said oven assembly in communication withthe space to the rear of said rear housing wall.
 3. An oven assemblyaccording to claim 1 including: means associated with said top front airoutlet of said control chamber for deflecting air exiting therefrom in apartly upwardly direction.
 4. A wall oven assembly of the pyrolyticself-cleaning type adapted to be installed in a cabinet in a room,comprising: an outer housing; a control chamber in the upper part ofsaid housing; a thermally-insulated oven cavity defining structure insaid housing; an intermediate air flow passage defined between saidcontrol chamber and said oven cavity defining structure, saidintermediate passage having an inlet opening at the front and an outletopening at the rear; air inlet means defined at the top and sides ofsaid housing with said cabinet; fan means located at the rear of saidoven assembly and having a suction side and a pressure side, saidpressure side being in communication with a space at the rear of saidoven cavity defining structure; side air flow passages defined at bothsides of said oven assembly between the outer sides of said oven cavitydefining structure and respectively facing inner faces of said outerhousing, and in communication with the pressure side of said fan means;means placing said space at the rear of said oven cavity definingstructure in communication with the interior of said control chamber;said fan means being operable to draw air through said air inlet meansand past the outer faces of said outer housing to the suction side ofsaid fan means, and also draw air through said intermediate passage fromfront to rear, and for forcing air back into said room through said sideair passages and through said control chamber having an outlet at itsupper front edge portion.